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I am not a cop, but would like to share a story about a senior driver getting off the street.
A member of my church, in her mid-90's, had an accident where she pulled out of a driveway in front of a car. The other driver tried to avoid her, but could not. No one hurt, but extensive damage to both cars. She was not sure what happened and actually drove on for a ways before she pulled over, dragging her rear bumper.
I had been concerned about her driving before this, because I kept seeing damage on her car, and she wasn't always able to tell me how they'd happened. She had had another accident; been warned for running a red light; had knocked over my post box and backed into a shed at the church. Clearly it was getting beyond her to drive.
After this latest accident, she tried to maintain it was not her fault-- that she had gotten safely into the turn lane (not what the report said) and that it was a snowy day and the other driver was driving a white car. She told me she knew she would have to give up driving "one of these days" but she didn't believe the time had come yet.
But, one thing she couldn't escape was that the police report found her at fault. The officer very kindly came out to the house and made sure she understood that she had caused the accident, and that he was requiring her to take a driving test. And I, as her pastor, gently but firmly told her that I did not believe she should be driving any longer, and that I would help her make other arrangements for transportation.
It took awhile, but by the time the case went to court, she voluntarily surrendered her license. And now she is indeed learning how to get around without having a car, and the congregation is helping her do that.
To the OP in that other thread, I would like to say: by all means, do make sure that driver understands she was at fault. Sometimes your report is what will give family/pastor/friends the evidence they need to convince the person the time has come to turn in the license. If you can order a driving evaluation, go for it.
As hard as it is to give up one's mobility and independence, a person like my parishioner would be devastated if she caused someone's death or injury.
I am not a cop, but would like to share a story about a senior driver getting off the street.
A member of my church, in her mid-90's, had an accident where she pulled out of a driveway in front of a car. The other driver tried to avoid her, but could not. No one hurt, but extensive damage to both cars. She was not sure what happened and actually drove on for a ways before she pulled over, dragging her rear bumper.
I had been concerned about her driving before this, because I kept seeing damage on her car, and she wasn't always able to tell me how they'd happened. She had had another accident; been warned for running a red light; had knocked over my post box and backed into a shed at the church. Clearly it was getting beyond her to drive.
After this latest accident, she tried to maintain it was not her fault-- that she had gotten safely into the turn lane (not what the report said) and that it was a snowy day and the other driver was driving a white car. She told me she knew she would have to give up driving "one of these days" but she didn't believe the time had come yet.
But, one thing she couldn't escape was that the police report found her at fault. The officer very kindly came out to the house and made sure she understood that she had caused the accident, and that he was requiring her to take a driving test. And I, as her pastor, gently but firmly told her that I did not believe she should be driving any longer, and that I would help her make other arrangements for transportation.
It took awhile, but by the time the case went to court, she voluntarily surrendered her license. And now she is indeed learning how to get around without having a car, and the congregation is helping her do that.
To the OP in that other thread, I would like to say: by all means, do make sure that driver understands she was at fault. Sometimes your report is what will give family/pastor/friends the evidence they need to convince the person the time has come to turn in the license. If you can order a driving evaluation, go for it.
As hard as it is to give up one's mobility and independence, a person like my parishioner would be devastated if she caused someone's death or injury.
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